SIM registration laws by country (2026): ID, biometrics and foreigners
Which countries require ID or biometrics to activate a SIM, and what foreigners need, compiled from official regulator and government sources as of October 2026.
By PhoneBorn Team9 min read
Key points
- Most countries now require ID before a prepaid SIM is activated, and a growing number also take a fingerprint or a live face scan. India, Nigeria, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Ghana, Saudi Arabia and China are examples in the table below.
- Foreigners can usually register with a passport, but many countries limit how many lines a visitor can hold and tie the SIM's validity to the visa or residence period.
- The rules are changing fast: India, Indonesia, South Korea, Mexico and Turkey all brought in new measures in 2025–2026. Treat this table as a starting point and check the regulator's current page before you travel.
SIM registration is the rule that links a phone number to a real person's identity. When it started in the 2000s it was mostly about prepaid cards and anti-terrorism. Today it's increasingly about fighting fraud: governments link SIMs to national ID databases, cap the number of lines per person, and in some countries capture biometrics at the counter.
If you're a traveller, an expat, a journalist or just curious why buying a SIM abroad took 40 minutes and a fingerprint, this guide sums up the rules in about 25 countries as of 1 October 2026. Every "yes" in the table comes from a regulator, a ministry or the text of the law, linked below. Anything we couldn't confirm from an official source is marked not verified. We didn't fill gaps with guesses.
How to read the table
- ID required: you must show an identity document (national ID, passport, residence card) before a prepaid SIM is activated.
- Biometric: the regulator or law requires a fingerprint, face scan or similar biometric check at registration. "Optional" means biometrics is one of several accepted methods.
- Foreigners: what the official source says about visitors and non-residents.
- Not verified: we couldn't confirm the point from an official government or regulator page. It may well be true. We just couldn't source it properly.
SIM registration rules by country (as of October 2026)
| Country | ID required? | Biometric? | Foreigners | Legal basis | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | Yes | Yes, under the 2026 rules (biometric-based identification) | Foreign nationals follow a separate digital KYC process; validity rules not verified | Telecommunications Act 2023; Telecommunications (User Identification) Rules 2026 | DoT |
| Nigeria | Yes, National Identification Number (NIN) | Yes, live image or fingerprints for new SIMs | Tourists use a passport; SIM validity matched to visa (2 weeks, 1 or 3 months); residents need a NIN | Registration of Communications Subscribers Regulations 2022 and Business Rules 2025 | NCC FAQ, Business Rules |
| Kenya | Yes, checked against government databases | Not explicitly required | Valid passport or Foreign National Registration Certificate | KICA (Registration of Telecommunications Service Subscribers) Regulations 2025 | Communications Authority |
| South Africa | Yes | Not in the Act | Non-residents use a valid passport or travel document | RICA (Act 70 of 2002), s.40 | Department of Justice |
| Ghana | Yes, Ghana Card; foreigners use passport, ECOWAS card or non-citizen Ghana Card | Yes, picture and fingerprints | Validated against an approved database | NCA registration process | NCA |
| Egypt | Yes, in person | Not mentioned | Passport plus residency document; SIM validity tied to residency; line caps per operator | NTRA SIM sales regulations | NTRA |
| Turkey | Yes | Optional (face or fingerprint, or e-Government password) | Passport holders without a foreigner ID number: 1 line per operator | Electronic Communications Law 5809 (as amended); BTK decision 2026 | BTK |
| Saudi Arabia | Yes | Yes, fingerprint (or Absher) verification since 2016 | Not verified | CITC/CST directive | CST |
| United Arab Emirates | Yes, Emirates ID, or passport plus visa | Not verified | Visitors: limited period, max 2 SIMs per provider; registration ends with visa or passport expiry | TDRA registration policy | TDRA policy, TDRA FAQ |
| Pakistan | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified | PTA rules | Not verified (regulator site unreachable when checked) |
| Bangladesh | Yes | Yes, central biometric verification platform | Not verified | BTRC biometric SIM registration | BTRC |
| Philippines | Yes | Not in the Act | Passport, address and return ticket; tourist SIMs valid 30 days | Republic Act 11934 (SIM Registration Act) | Act text |
| Indonesia | Yes, NIK checked against civil registry | Yes for citizens, face recognition from 1 July 2026 | Passport, KITAS or KITAP | Komdigi Ministerial Regulation 7/2026 | Komdigi, regulation |
| Malaysia | Yes | Optional (OCR, biometrics or MyKad reader) | Passport, work permit or student ID | MCMC prepaid registration rules | MCMC, documents |
| Singapore | Yes, SIMs registered to a person's particulars | Not verified | Not verified | Offences for SIM misuse (2024) | Singapore Police |
| Thailand | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified | NBTC notifications | Not verified (regulator site unreachable when checked) |
| China | Yes, real-name registration | Yes, portrait comparison at outlets since December 2019 | Foreign passport accepted | Anti-Telecom and Online Fraud Law 2022, Art. 9; MIIT Order 25 | NPC, MIIT |
| Japan | Yes, for voice contracts | No | Tourists show passport face-to-face; no address needed | Mobile Phone Improper Use Prevention Act | MIC |
| South Korea | Yes | Face check pilot from December 2025; mandatory status not verified | Passport-based lines cut from 2 to 1 | Ministry of Science and ICT measures | korea.kr |
| Australia | Yes, verified before activation | Not verified | Not verified | Prepaid Identity Checks Determination 2017 | Federal Register of Legislation |
| Germany | Yes, checked before activation | No | Foreign passport or residence title accepted | Telecommunications Act (TKG 2021) §172 | gesetze-im-internet.de |
| Spain | Yes, operators keep an identity register | No | Not explicit in the law | Ley 25/2007, sole additional provision | BOE |
| Poland | Yes, in person with ID card or passport | No | Passport accepted | Prepaid registration duty since 2016 | UKE |
| Brazil | Yes, name, address and ID or CPF | No | Not verified | Lei 10.703/2003 | Planalto |
| Mexico | Yes, line linked to official ID and CURP from January 2026 | Not mentioned | Not verified | CRT mobile-line identification guidelines | CRT |
| United Kingdom | No national requirement (not verified by official source) | No | – | – | – |
| United States | No national requirement (not verified by official source) | No | – | – | – |
| Canada | No national requirement (not verified by official source) | No | – | – | – |
Trends worth knowing
Biometrics are spreading
A decade ago, fingerprinting at a phone shop was unusual. Now the official sources above show biometric capture as required in India (under the 2026 rules), Nigeria, Ghana, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, China and, for citizens, Indonesia. Turkey and Malaysia offer it as one accepted method, and South Korea has piloted a face check. The stated reason is almost always fraud: stopping SIMs registered with stolen or fake IDs and then used for scams.
Line caps for visitors
Several countries cap the number of SIMs a visitor can hold. The UAE allows visitors up to two SIMs per provider. Turkey allows one line per operator for passport holders without a foreigner ID number. South Korea cut passport-based lines from two to one. If you need several numbers while travelling, a local SIM may not be the way to get them.
SIM validity tied to your visa
Nigeria matches foreigner SIM validity to the visa. The Philippines deactivates tourist SIMs after 30 days. The UAE ends registration when the visa or passport expires. Egypt ties it to the residency period. Plan for your local number to stop working when you leave. Don't put important accounts on it.
Europe and North America are mixed
Germany, Spain and Poland require ID for prepaid SIMs, while the UK, US and Canada have no national SIM registration law. That's why travellers often find buying a SIM in London quick and buying one in Berlin slower.
What this means for travellers and expats
| If you… | Consider |
|---|---|
| Need data and local calls for a short trip | A local prepaid SIM or a data eSIM; bring your passport |
| Need to keep receiving codes for your home accounts | Keep your home SIM active (roaming for SMS) and move 2FA to an authenticator app |
| Need a number that stays yours across countries | A number you rent and renew, not a tourist SIM that expires with your visa |
| Are moving abroad long-term | Register a local SIM properly with your residence documents |
Local tourist SIMs are fine for data and local calls. The problem comes when people verify long-term accounts with them. When the SIM expires, the number may later be reassigned to someone else. See what happens to a phone number after you stop using it.
Where PhoneBorn fits
PhoneBorn rents real mobile numbers in 200 countries, managed online, for 1, 3, 6 or 12 months. Sign-up needs only an email address, and payment is in crypto. That's useful for keeping app accounts on a number that doesn't expire when your visa does.
It's not a way around any country's SIM registration law, and it doesn't replace a local SIM where you live. If you need a local line for local banking, government services or a job, register one properly. Our guide on whether a second number is legal and our acceptable use policy cover responsible use. For security-sensitive users, our article on phone-number privacy for journalists and activists explains why registered SIMs are tied to identity and what that means.
How we built this table
We checked each entry against a regulator, ministry, legislature or court website, loading every page on or shortly before 1 October 2026. We didn't use encyclopaedias, industry associations or news reports as the cited source. Where only secondary sources were available (Pakistan and Thailand, for example), we marked the row "not verified" rather than guess. France, Italy and the Netherlands are left out for now because we haven't yet sourced them from official pages.
If you spot an outdated entry, contact us with the official source and we'll update it.
FAQ
Do I need a passport to buy a SIM card abroad?
In most of the countries listed here, yes. A passport is the standard ID for visitors. Some countries also ask for a visa, address or return ticket, and some take a fingerprint or photo.
Which countries require biometrics for SIM registration?
According to the official sources in our table: India (under the 2026 rules), Nigeria, Ghana, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, China and, for citizens, Indonesia. Turkey and Malaysia accept biometrics as one option, and South Korea has piloted a face check.
Will my tourist SIM keep working after I leave?
Often not for long. Several countries tie tourist SIM validity to the visa or a fixed period: the Philippines sets 30 days, and Nigeria and the UAE match the visa. Don't use a tourist SIM for accounts you need to recover later.
Does the UK or US require SIM registration?
Neither has a national SIM registration law for prepaid cards, though carriers may ask for details when you sign up for a contract or pay by card.
Is this table legal advice?
No. It's a summary of official sources as of October 2026. Rules change quickly, so check the regulator's current page or ask the operator before you rely on it.